Sign In / Sign Out
Navigation for Entire University
Human behavior --- what is embedded and what is learned? Understanding how and why people act the way they do complements whatever major or career you pursue. A minor in anthropology allows you to harness the lessons of humankind's past to illuminate its future.
Coursework in anthropology complements many majors and provides critical thinking skills for any career that requires understanding human behavior and its motivations, including medicine, marketing, business, consulting and human resources.
A minor in anthropology rounds out the academic experience by focusing on the lessons and people that make human societies so interesting and challenging to understand, both in the past and in modern times.
A focus in biological anthropology is perfect for a premedical track where things like understanding why a specific disease exists is important while a focus in social anthropology yields understanding in how human groups actually function. Both provide a competitive advantage in the workforce as students learn how to problem-solve creatively and better understand themselves and others.
Many program faculty hold titles of national distinction and are recognized experts in topics such as material goods, death and human remains, identity, evolution, primates and more.
At A Glance
Application requirements
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements:
Affording college
Scholarships
Find and apply for relevant scholarships.
Financial Aid
ASU has many financial aid options. Almost everyone, regardless
of income, can qualify for some form of financial aid. In fact,
more than 70 percent of all ASU students receive some form of
financial assistance every year.
Program requirements
The anthropology minor requires a minimum of 18 credit hours, at least 12 of which must be upper-division. Only courses completed with a grade of "C" (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) can be used to fulfill minor requirements.
The minor in anthropology is also available in an online format to complement the studies of ASU ONLINE students.
Required Introductory Courses (choose two) -- 6 credit hours
Upper-Division Subfield Courses -- 12 credit hours
Students choose 12 upper-division credit hours from the subfields of archaeology, evolutionary anthropology and sociocultural anthropology (including linguistics). The particular required introductory courses selected may limit the courses available for use as subfield courses. At least two of the three subfields must be represented. (12)
Archaeology Subfield
Physical Subfield
Sociocultural Subfield
Depending on a student's undergraduate program of study, prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this minor.
Degree requirements
The anthropology minor requires a minimum of 18 credit hours.
Required introductory courses: (choose two)
ASB 102 Culture in a Globalizing World, SB, G (3)
ASB 222 Buried Cities and Lost Tribes, SB, G, H (3) or ASB 223 Aztecs, Incas and Mayas, HU or SB, G, H (3)
ASM 104 Bones, Stones and Human Evolution, SB or SG (4)
However, the particular introductory courses selected may limit the anthropology courses available in the upper division.
Twelve credit hours must be upper-division and represent at least two of the three subfields of anthropology.
The three subfields are:
- archaeology
- evolutionary anthropology
- sociocultural anthropology (with linguistics)
The courses chosen to represent two of the three subfields must be drawn from the distribution requirements of those two subfields. A listing of courses by subfield can be found at https://shesc.asu.edu/content/scheduling-courses-curricula.
A minimum grade of "C" (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) is required for all courses taken for the minor in anthropology.
Depending upon a student's undergraduate program of study, prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this minor.
Enrollment requirements
GPA Requirement: None
Incompatible Majors: BA in anthropology; BS in anthropology
Other Enrollment Requirements: None
Current ASU undergraduate students may pursue a minor and have it recognized on their ASU transcript at graduation. Students interested in pursuing a minor should consult their academic advisor to declare the minor and to ensure that an appropriate set of courses is taken. Minor requirements appear on the degree audit once the minor is added. Certain major and minor combinations may be deemed inappropriate by the college or department of either the major program or the minor. Courses taken for the minor may not count toward both the major and the minor. Students should contact their academic advisor for more information.
What are ASU's Online Programs?
ASU Online offers programs like Anthropology in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year.
More information on the program is available directly from ASU Online.